Ahmed al-Sharaa Appointed President of Transitional Syria

Ahmed al-Sharaa has been designated as Syria’s transitional president, succeeding in a rebel offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad. The transitional government will annul the previous constitution and integrate rebel factions. Russia reaffirms support for Syria, addressing past grievances while maintaining strategic interests in the region. An interim administration is set to lead until March as recovery efforts commence.

Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as Syria’s president for the transitional period, following reports by state media. This announcement comes seven weeks after he led a successful rebel offensive which resulted in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Rebel military commander Hassan Abdul Ghani declared the annulment of Syria’s constitution from 2012 and the disbanding of the previous government’s parliament, military, and security forces.

In his capacity as president, Sharaa is tasked with establishing an interim legislative council to oversee governance until a new constitution is enacted. Furthermore, he stated that all rebel factions opposing Assad during the 13-year civil conflict will be absorbed into state institutions. These developments were announced during a meeting in Damascus that included various commanders from Sharaa’s alliance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

HTS, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda classified as a terrorist organization by several entities, had previously controlled the last rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria. The civil war began as Assad’s regime violently suppressed a peaceful pro-democracy movement in 2011, resulting in over half a million deaths and displacing around 12 million people. Following the recent military advancements by the rebels, Assad resigned from his presidency and sought refuge in Russia on December 8.

An interim government under Mohammed al-Bashir is currently overseeing the administrative functions of the country until March. Recently, the Syrian government urged Russia to rectify historical grievances by providing war reparations, coinciding with a significant visit from a senior Russian delegation. Sharaa and Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, addressed topics related to reinforcing trust with the Syrian populace through compensation and recovery initiatives.

The Russian government reaffirmed its commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and expressed willingness to aid in the country’s recovery. Russia has conducted extensive airstrikes in rebel-held territories since supporting Assad in 2015, resulting in significant casualties. Although Russian forces have begun withdrawing from their Mediterranean bases, analyses indicate efforts to maintain strategic control over these locations.

In light of the Russian delegation’s visit, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogues with Syrian authorities. In a recent interview, Sharaa articulated the imperative of maintaining a robust relationship with Russia: “All of Syria’s arms are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts.”

In summary, Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as the transitional president of Syria following significant military victories over Assad’s regime. His administration is expected to initiate governance reforms, including the establishment of a legislative council and integration of rebel factions into state structures. The evolving relationship with Russia remains crucial as Syria seeks recovery and stability in the aftermath of a prolonged civil war.

Original Source: www.bbc.com